The revolt ended -- no heads were lost

"The Revolution is ended," by Anthony Moseley, Collaboraction's Artistic and Executive Director

"The Revolution is declared ended," said Anthony Moseley. Then all the whacky revolutionaries ate... or were smeared with cake mid evening of Carnaval. Collaboraction's 9th annual fundraiser at the Double Door in the heart of Wicker Park continued the wild and crazy fun until 2 a.m.

The revolutionaries become bathed in cake

More than 450 mainly twenty to thirty year-olds danced, sang, interacted with actors, musicians and living art installations as they enjoyed libations and conversations with friends and strangers on two levels of the Double Door, Mar. 19. With such experiences as the Environmental Encroachment marching band, which generally includes a rabbit with long ears; Chucha Libre, a very funny burlesque act by actresses Carolyn

Sandra Delgado and Carolyn Hoerdemann "share" makeup tips

and Sandra Delgado; artists Ennis Alexander Martin III and Erik Stenberb each intently painting a canvas; a southern belle with a puppet show under her skirt;and many others, there was no chance for boredom.

An installation art piece by The Catharsis Junkies

The Ordeal, a combined DJ/live music act, featured Mikhail Fiksel and Miles Polaski; Les Enfants Terribles included clowns, body suited creatures and more; and many other performers rounded out the energetic evening of whirling mayhem.

The king is being stripped

In addition to raising funds for operations, Collaboraction's goal is to demonstrate to the twenty to thirty year-olds that Collaboraction is an arts organization that speaks to them. Sketchbook and other Collaboraction events will then, hopefully, be added to the calendars of this target audience. Realistically, the fun was not limited to the targeted age range. (I am slightly beyond my thirties and thoroughly enjoyed the event!)

The annual Carnaval event is produced by Colaboraction's Development Council, chaired by Matt Woodburn of Sound Investment. This year's event was sponsored by Double Door, Auchentoshan Scotch, Our Urban Times, Gunner's and Alliance Bakery.

Sketchbook 11: Evolution will run from June 2- 25 at the Chopin Theatre. This annual Collaboraction show features nine short plays and seven devised works, each of which is a maximum of eight minutes long.

Click on one of the photos below and the Carnaval slide show will open.